How do you show your reader that a character has succeeded (or failed) without simply telling them? MacGuffins and avatars can be used to make conflict concrete—that is, they create a physical symbol of a character’s goal. A MacGuffin is an object that drives the plot forward, but isn’t necessarily important in itself and generally has no agency. An avatar, on the other hand, embodies a character’s internal change and often has agency. Think of Dirty Dancing: when Baby nails the lift, it represents her coming into her own as a dancer. This week, our hosts explore how both of these tools can create satisfying character arcs and reveal that getting the thing you want isn’t always the same as succeeding.

Homework:

Figure out what your character wants or needs (whether or not they’re right about it). Make a list of possible avatars—objects, actions, or moments that would communicate to the reader that they’ve achieved their goal. Include some things your character thinks will represent success but that might actually lead them in the wrong direction.

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Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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